Local News

(Graphic/Eva Saraf)

(Graphic/Eva Saraf)

Unemployment has been stable since 2020

Eva Saraf
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Unemployment in Oglethorpe County has remained relatively unchanged the past five years, despite challenges in the county and efforts to improve employment opportunities.
Courtney Brown (clockwise from upper left), Mandy Garrett, Robert Wadsworth (with daughter Lizzie) and Timmy Gay won’t give up the sense of community and tranquil living of Oglethorpe County so they commute to work outside the county. (Photos/Submitted)

Courtney Brown (clockwise from upper left), Mandy Garrett, Robert Wadsworth (with daughter Lizzie) and Timmy Gay won’t give up the sense of community and tranquil living of Oglethorpe County so they commute to work outside the county. (Photos/Submitted)

Hit the road for work

Grace Burnett and Emily Adams
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Many Oglethorpe County residents work outside of the county, often in pursuit of careers or opportunities that aren’t available inside the county’s borders. These residents commute to and from Oglethorpe County because they love its slower pace of life and community.
Kassie Mathews, a sophomore at Oglethorpe County High School, conducted “Sleigh Ride” during the Classic City Band’s concert on Dec. 16. She was the OCHS marching band’s drum major this fall. (Photo/Submitted)

Kassie Mathews, a sophomore at Oglethorpe County High School, conducted “Sleigh Ride” during the Classic City Band’s concert on Dec. 16. She was the OCHS marching band’s drum major this fall. (Photo/Submitted)

Mathews conducts final song in concert

Neva Drane
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Kassie Mathews delivered on her band director’s trust.  Michael Brewer, the director of the Classic City Band, an all-volunteer group, asked Mathews to conduct “Sleigh Ride,” the closing song for the band’s annual Holiday Concert on Dec. 16 at the University of Georgia’s Hodgson Concert Hall.
Lauren Willcox, owner of W5 Breakaway Roping, makes her catch during competition, throwing a clean loop as her horse tracks the calf across the arena. She’s also a special education and pre-K teacher in Oglethorpe County. (Photo/Submitted)

Lauren Willcox, owner of W5 Breakaway Roping, makes her catch during competition, throwing a clean loop as her horse tracks the calf across the arena. She’s also a special education and pre-K teacher in Oglethorpe County. (Photo/Submitted)

Willcox spurs growth of her roping school

Jacob Harper
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Lauren Willcox owns and operates W5 Breakaway Roping, which has attracted customers from across Georgia and the Carolinas.  “A friend asked if I wanted to put on a clinic, and I thought that it would be something fun to do one time,” Willcox said.
Jesse Chambers has played and sang at Town and Country Kafe five times since February 2024. Several family members attended his concert there on Nov. 8. (Photo/Submitted)

Jesse Chambers has played and sang at Town and Country Kafe five times since February 2024. Several family members attended his concert there on Nov. 8. (Photo/Submitted)

Family’s love of music flows through Chambers

Grace Burnett
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Jesse Chambers has been infatuated with music since he was 5 years old. The Lexington resident and senior at OCHS started playing guitar then, and more recently, has been pursuing singing as a self-taught musician.  “I’ve been playing guitar pretty much my whole life,” he said.
Maxeys leadership includes (from left) city council members Carrie Hayes, Carrie Hyatt, Danny Gorman, Mayor Edward Toledano, Shirley Callahan, Doug Miller and city clerk Jenny Yearwood-Parker. The city is adding online bill pay for water bills next month. (Photo/Ansley Gavlak)

Maxeys leadership includes (from left) city council members Carrie Hayes, Carrie Hyatt, Danny Gorman, Mayor Edward Toledano, Shirley Callahan, Doug Miller and city clerk Jenny Yearwood-Parker. The city is adding online bill pay for water bills next month. (Photo/Ansley Gavlak)

Lexington denied for rural zone designation

Ansley Gavlak
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Lexington wasn’t one of the seven cities selected for rural zone designation. The Northeast Georgia Regional Commission reviewed and submitted the application on the city’s behalf.
Dwaine Fowler and his daughter Deanna Lee Brooks Fowler share a moment together after he graduated from drug court on Dec. 11. Fowler spent 20 months in the program. (Photo/Submitted)

Dwaine Fowler and his daughter Deanna Lee Brooks Fowler share a moment together after he graduated from drug court on Dec. 11. Fowler spent 20 months in the program. (Photo/Submitted)

Road to redemption

Andy Mathis
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
For nearly two years, Dwaine Fowler has shown up before sunrise at the Oglethorpe County Public Works yard. He’s clocked in, grabbed tools and headed out with the road crew.  He’s displayed that level of dedication to another area of his life.
Using parent input, Oglethorpe County Superintendent Beverley Levine (left), Board of Education chair Becky Soto and the BOE decided to move the start date of the 2026-27 school year to Aug. 7. The 2026-27 school calendar also features shorter breaks. (Photo/Cassidy Hettesheimer)

Using parent input, Oglethorpe County Superintendent Beverley Levine (left), Board of Education chair Becky Soto and the BOE decided to move the start date of the 2026-27 school year to Aug. 7. The 2026-27 school calendar also features shorter breaks. (Photo/Cassidy Hettesheimer)

Schools have later start, fewer long breaks in 2026-27

Ansley Gavlak
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
The Oglethorpe County School System will push back the start of the 2026-27 school year by one week to Friday, Aug. 7, according to the recently approved academic calendar. School began on Friday, Aug. 1 this year.
Jeanne Doyle (left) and Daniel Gorman do their part to turn Maxeys into a winter wonderland with their float that featured Danny and Beverly Gorman as Mr. and Mrs. Frosty the Snowman at the seventh annual Maxeys Christmas Parade on Saturday. The Gormans won the award for best float. (Submitted Photo)

Jeanne Doyle (left) and Daniel Gorman do their part to turn Maxeys into a winter wonderland with their float that featured Danny and Beverly Gorman as Mr. and Mrs. Frosty the Snowman at the seventh annual Maxeys Christmas Parade on Saturday. The Gormans won the award for best float. (Submitted Photo)

Photo Package: seventh annual Maxeys Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 6

Grace Burnett
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
The seventh annual Maxeys Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 6 included float awards for taking part in the parade festivities. The Gormans won the award for best float. The Oglethorpe County Transportation Department was second with “The Polar Express.”
Local author Kiyoko Hairston reads her debut children’s book, “Freeda's Fabnificent Feet.” Hairston does readings of the book at schools and libraries in the Athens area. (Submitted Photo)

Local author Kiyoko Hairston reads her debut children’s book, “Freeda's Fabnificent Feet.” Hairston does readings of the book at schools and libraries in the Athens area. (Submitted Photo)

Local author turns insecurity into her first children’s book

Makenna Reavis
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
When Kiyoko Hairston was growing up, she got used to siblings, kids and adults making comments about her large feet.  She often had to cram her feet into smaller shoes or was frustrated by a less-than-ideal selection of children’s shoes in her size.